Boutique Design - May 2018 - 8

By mary scoviak, executive eDitor

ZERO TOLERaNCE
Boutique Design (BD) has always been about people,

not titles. In our view, no one is too legendary to get a pass
when it comes to showing respect for all of the members
of the design community who read this magazine and/or
participate in BD's trade fairs, conferences and events-
not even the biggest names in our business.
A conversation that played out on the Hospitality
Legends panel at Boutique Design West (BDwest) held
in April in Los Angeles put that belief to the test.
This much-anticipated session brought together some
of the pioneers who shaped hospitality design: Michael
Bedner, cofounder, Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA); Wing
T. Chao, global advisor, Wing T. Chao Global Advisors (and
the former vice chairman of development for Walt Disney
Parks and Resorts, Asia Pacific, as well as executive vice
president for master planning, architecture & design at
Walt Disney Imagineering); Barbara Lazaroff, president/
cofounder, Imaginings Interior Design, Inc./Wolfgang Puck
Brand, IP; and Horst Schulze, chairman emeritus of WP
Hospitality Group (formerly Capella Hotel Group) and also
one of the founders of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.
What should have been a dream opportunity to hear
about what's next for the hospitality design industry from
the people who largely built it turned sour with Bedner's
objectifying anecdotes about prostitutes who enhanced the
customer appeal of a 5-star lobby he'd worked on with his
late business partner, Howard Hirsch, or his comments on
a leggy female colleague. Schulze's look-back on the evolution of luxury hospitality included a peeping-Tom moment
for a window washer cleaning a massive glass expanse
while a woman guest was bathing. And, later, when the
panelists assertively offered different opinions, Schulze's
"beaten wife" references were noted and not appreciated.
While it was clear both speakers were recalling events
that happened when social mores were different, it should
have been apparent that these anecdotes were inappropriate and disrespectful in the context of today. BD
called the speakers on it during the session itself and also
phoned them to convey the complaints received from
attendees and other participants at BDwest, including
their fellow panelists Chao and Lazaroff.
To their credit, both Bedner and Schulze made it a
point to pick up (twice) and address this. Here's their take.
Bedner said, "I regret if I appeared to convey anything
other than my respect for my fellow panel members,
8

boutiquedesign.com may 2018

EDITORIAL
executive editor
mary Scoviak
mary.scoviak@stmediagroup.com

the BDwest design community at large and women in
particular. Design is my lifelong passion-it's what I live
and breathe and I'll do so until my last breath. I've been
known as a 'bear' in my inner circle and fear that my
enthusiasm may have got the best of me. It's been shared
with me that my colorful war stories of yesteryear may
have even left some offended. Let me clearly say that it
pains me to think that I've offended the very community
that I love so dearly-the community that's always had my
back and made me the designer I am today. As mentioned
on the panel, my eyes are always on the future and I look
forward to continuing our work, our conversations, our
debate and passion for design now and into the future."
Schulze said, "It's outrageous [referring to the charge
that he disrespected women]. I was recalling an anecdote about design. I've supported women in this business throughout my career. I was among the first to
promote women to be general managers [which was
extremely rare, especially in the luxury sector] and
continued to put more women in the top managerial
roles in my hotels. I have a wife and four daughters-no
boys-whom I love dearly. It's horribly insulting that a
simple story recalling one design-related situation would
leave anyone thinking I don't respect women, given the
proven priorities of supporting them that define my
management style and personal life."
Respect doesn't just apply to this instance. At
BDwest, we put voices from rising stars to industry
icons in front of our attendees, showing that no matter
where you are in your career, we value your insights. Our
April 2016 issue featuring a "White Paper" on fostering a
diverse workplace gave our readers some concrete drill
down into best practices for a truly inclusive industry,
one that eliminates bias on the basis not only of race or
nationality, but also gender and age.
BD's team would like to have your feedback. Let us know
what you think by posting to our social media accounts or
emailing us. Every voice matters. So, talk out loud.

editor
matthew Hall
matthew.hall@stmediagroup.com
art Director
Kelly Farrar
kelly.farrar@stmediagroup.com
senior editor
Christina Green
christina.green@stmediagroup.com
assistant editor
Sarah Chaplin
sarah.chaplin@stmediagroup.com
special Projects editor
Oriana Lerner
oriana.lerner@stmediagroup.com
editorial intern
Elizabeth Duccilli
liz.duccilli@stmediagroup.com

SALES
associate Publisher/
Business Development manager,
midwest/West
melani Beattie
melani.beattie@stmediagroup.com
(312) 218-5691
Business Development manager,
northeast
michael Schneider
michael.schneider@stmediagroup.com
(212) 404-6936
Business Development manager,
southeast
Scott Rickles
scott.rickles@stmediagroup.com
(770) 664-4567

CORPORATE
President
Tedd Swormstedt
senior vP, Boutique Design
group, st media group/President,
Hospitality media group
michelle Finn
michelle.finn@stmediagroup.com
(312) 961-2772
audience Development Director
Christine Baloga
Book Division Director
mark Kissling
Production coordinator
Linda Volz
reprint information
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Boutique Design - May 2018

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